Next Stop - Risa! [Part 1]

Posted on Wed Aug 24th, 2022 @ 2:05am by Commander Mashiro Munetani "Shiro" & Captain Akeno Misaki & Lieutenant Rosaleen O'Donnell & Lieutenant Commander Raelyn Mckenzie & Lieutenant Commander Mark Johnson & Lieutenant Luna Eclipse of the House of Martok
Edited on on Wed Aug 24th, 2022 @ 2:05am

Mission: When on Risa...
Location: Starbase 12
Timeline: Approximately half an hour after "Admirals, Captains, & Cats"

Akeno stared for a few moments out of the viewport at the Wayfarer. The ship had been handed over only a few hours ago to the Starbase engineers. Already several workbees and repair engineers were walking on the saucer shaped hull, fixing the hull breaches and repairing the external systems. The ship was going to be laid up for the next ten days, although it may be longer depending on how bad the damage was.

She smiled as she turned on a heel and made her way to the docking port. Her new blue and whited striped crop top and blue miniskirt showed off her curves and she thought the heartshaped sunglasses helped with her face (In reality they didn't they looked a little 'tacky'). Regardless she made her way to the transport port.

The transport leaving for Risa would be departing the starbase in just under fourthy five minutes. Then it was a three hour warp flight to Risa. They would arrive by mid afternoon in plenty of time to check into the resort. It was a well known resort and used by many Starfleet Officers and crews.

(Transport Docking Port)

A tall, slender brunette made her way down the main concourse, a retractable carry-on in tow. Her long, thigh-length hair was tied back in a high ponytail, secured in place by a white ribbon. Her cherry-red eyes panned from side-to-side, searching for the correct terminal.

"Well, look who it is!"

Turning, she was just in time to spot a woman in a bright orange Hawaiian shirt, cargo shorts, and pink flip-flops waving to her from across the concourse.

"Fancy running into you here," she muttered as she moved over to join the other woman.

"I could say just as much of you," the other woman grinned. "So, I take it you decided to take up Admiral Sutok's offer after all, Mashiro?"

"Just figured I'd take some time to clear up my head," the brunette, Mashiro, admitted. "I'm still dumbfounded how I lost that command position by just one bar."

"Don't beat yourself up over it, Mashiro," the other woman replied, placing a reassuring hand on Mashiro's shoulder. "There's plenty more command positions where that one came from; just gotta be patient is all."

Mashiro sighed. "Thanks for the kind words, Hiromi; I take it you're on leave as well?"

"As that weren't obvious already!" the other woman, Hiromi, laughed, twirling around and showing off her latest summer wear. "I worked hard for this promotion, and I intend to celebrate it!"

"I can tell," Mashiro chuckled.

Akeno noticed the woman from across the docking port area. She was one of the candidates for the XO job on the Wayfarer. 'Maybe I can have some fun with her' she thought to herself.

She wandered over to the woman. "Hi there!" she said with a grin. "I overheard you are wanting a command position? Are you a Starfleet Officer?" she asked curiously.

"What's..." the two of them spun around and sized up the newcomer standing right behind them.

"Aw, aren't you a sweet little girl!" Hiromi smiled. "That's very thoughtful of you, but unless one of your parents is an Admiral, I'm afraid you won't be of much help to Shiro."

"Hiromi, I told you not to call me that," Mashiro hissed.

"Shiro..." Akeno said with a slight grin. "I don't have any parents" she stated. "How old do you think I am?"

"Like, about... 10? 11 at most?" Hiromi guessed, before being struck with the epiphany of what Akeno was implying. "Wait... oh, shit, you're an adult?!"

Akeno sighed. "Yeah. I'm twenty eight..." she soon switched the topic. "So, you and Shiro-Chan are going to Risa too. I was hoping to meet some new people on my trip"

Mashiro twitched slightly, clearly not amused that the "Shiro" nickname had stuck with Akeno.

Hiromi simply threw her head back and laughed. "Well, I can certainly appreciate someone who goes out of their way to get to know a stranger," she remarked as she offered Akeno her outstretched hand. "Lieutenant Hiromi Kuroki, Assistant Chief Engineer of Starbase 12. This here is Commander Mashiro Munetani, the base's XO."

"Nice to meet you. I'm Akeno Misaki" Akeno replied. "I'm assigned to the USS Wayfarer"

"I... apologize for Lieutenant Kuroki's antics," Mashiro sighed. "I find that our engineers can be a little... blue-collar, to put it politely."

"So, what? I'm unskilled labor to you?" Hiromi laughed, slapping Mashiro playfully on the back.

---

Luna raced down the Wayfarer's corridors, checking her watch as it counted down to the departure of the Risa shuttle. Coming around a final turn, Luna almost ran smack dab into..."LEON!? Dang, what are you doing here?" Luna hugged her childhood friend tightly. "For Kahless'es sake! You can't be Luna Eclips of the House of Martok, she's about this tall with a Mu Mu doll," Leon put his hand down at waist level, and as Luna looked down, he playfully flicked her nose. "Ow! How come I NEVER see that coming?" Luna pouted, causing Leon to laugh all the more. "In all seriousness, Luna, it's FANTASTIC to see you. Where you headed in such a rush anyway?" Luna had started walking again after catching a glance at her watch. "I'm going to Risa with some of the other crew for R&R for ten days. Hey, if you happen to be not busy, you can try and come hang. I'll send you where we're at once we're settled if you'd like," Luna blushed a little as Leon laughed. "We'll see pipsqueak. Gotta run," Leon gave Luna a peck on the cheek, then disappeared back down the corridor. Luna smiled, then scurried to the transporter.

Raelyn stepped into the docking port with a duffel-bag slung over her shoulder. In her hands she was carrying an open bag of replicated pretzel bites. She had been busy getting her department ready for repairs and leave, and she had to pack, so she didn't eat much earlier that day. Plus they were something that could tide her over until she got to Risa. Her attire wasn't anything special, just a simple grey racerback tank top with black shorts.

As soon as Mark finished his regular check on the sickbay he gathered his heavy trekking backpack and strolled down the hallway towards the Risa's shuttle. He felt much more at ease now that his patients were safe. He slept a few hours, got a decent breakfast and shaved and finally wore a clean and new uniform.

"The Transport for Risa will be leaving shortly. All passengers, please board and take your seats" an announcement came over the speakers.

"We better get aboard" Akeno smiled.

"Risa, here we come!" Hiromi proclaimed, pumping her fist excitedly as the three of them began to make their way down the gangway onto the transport.

Mashiro shook her head exasperatedly.

Luna tightened the straps on her silver and turquoise expandable backpack, and raced into the Transport. Finding a seat proved to be interesting as there were LOTS of beings heading to Risa. Luna finally found a seat, and carefully removed her backpack, slid it under her seat, and sat down between a Human male and a Vulcan female. Luna was curious that she couldn't see any of her crew, but figured that they were on a different part of the Transport. A small sigh of relief escaped her lips as she spotted the Captain with two other women.

Akeno waved back, and placed a single finger to her lips. She didn't want her game to end, it was important that no one here knew she was a Starfleet Captain.

"Friend of yours?" Hiromi inquired as she stowed her luggage in the overhead compartment.

"Yeah, I know them from the Wayfarer" Akeno smiled as she took her seat.

The doctor boarded the shuttle and glanced around looking for an empty seat he could use. He nodded a smiling salute to Akeno and to Luna to finally sank into one of the empty seats of the transport and briefly closing his eyes.

Akeno smiled back at him using her eyes to emphasize to the women next to her. She still wanted to stay under cover for a while longer. After all, they were all on shoreleave now, rank and position stayed on the ship, even if they were a crew. She had made it very clear at the last staff briefing.

Luna waved to Lt. Johnson, and had to stifle a giggle as he plopped down and promptly fell asleep. What they'd all just been through was exhausting and traumatic, so Luna was determined to find the little rays of sunshine wherever she went from now on.

Meanwhile, at the rear of the passenger area Rosaleen had quietly found a seat that was away from everyone else, which was quite normal for her these days. With so many new faces coming and going as of late, she found herself with no real friends, or even acquaintances amongst the crew. It just further highlighted just how isolated and alone she was. Rosaleen was not even sure why she was going to Risa with the rest of the shoreleave group. Maybe it was just a need to get away from that which reminded her of just how much she had lost. Or maybe it was something else. something that not even she could quite bring to the surface of her thoughts.

As Raelyn entered the transport and made her way to her seat, she nodded a greeting to Akeno. After a few moments she stopped near the middle of the transport, she took her bag off of her shoulder and set it in the overhead bin. She then claimed the window seat for herself and sat down and set her pretzel bites in her lap after she fastened her lap belt. She let out a small yawn. It occurred to her that she might fall asleep for the duration of the warp flight.

"It would seem that Akeno-Chan's fairly popular around here, eh?" Hiromi grinned, elbowing Akeno playfully.

Akeno simply smirked back. "Yeah, you could say that"

To be continued...